A Batik Air flight was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday afternoon because the pilot experienced health problems shortly before its scheduled landing at El-Tari International Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
Batik Air’s head of strategic communications, Danang Mandala Prihantoro, explained that all crew members of Batik Air flight ID-6548 had undergone through pre-flight check and were deemed airworthy for flight.
Just as the flight was about to land, however, the pilot reportedly informed his first officer that he was feeling ill.
“Before descent, the Pilot in Command [PIC] felt ill and was experiencing a strong headache, which disrupted his concentration and made him weak,” Danang said, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
The first officer then informed air traffic control that the plane will have to conduct an emergency landing in Kupang. According to a report from Liputan 6, the PIC identified as Djarot Harnanto, was able to make the emergency landing before losing consciousness.
Once the plane landed, Djarot was immediately evacuated to a local hospital in Kupang.
There were 148 passengers and seven crew members on board the Batik Air ID-6548 flight.
Barata Singgih Riwahono, General Manager at El Tari International Airport General, said that the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) are conducting an investigation into the matter.
“The cause of [the pilot] fainting is not yet determined, [we are] still waiting for further examination by KNKT,” Barata said yesterday.
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